Lawrence O'Donnell quoted 1971 Kerry on Olbermann, then cried

[beachmom]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/22/213654/09

I was reading this, and realized that what Kerry said back in 1971, which actually reached a larger audience in 2004, has now become a quote that will live forever. Because when I read this, it's almost like John Kerry doesn't own it anymore. It is purely Americana now, and will be brought out every time the U.S. embarks in a mistaken war:

Today, on Keith Olberman, Lawrence O'Donnell expanded on a point he has been making in print, online (at Huffington) and on other shows. He said that we are at a point in Iraq where we cannot win, and we cannot leave. He said the people in power are combat cowards, they are not serving. We are at a point now where we are asking soldiers to be the last man to die for a mistake.

At the end of the interview O'Donnell said: "And we should think about this, especially now, as we are approaching Thanksgiving, a family holiday." The camera went to Keith who said essentially that he was not going to ask anymore questions that might just distract from or dilute the powerful point that O'Donnel had just made. Then the camera switched back to O'Donnell. His eyes were red, his mouth was tight, and he looked down as he tried to choke back tears. The camera switched back to Keith quickly.

The diary goes on to discuss the draft, but I was really moved by what was said. I would like to see a YouTube of this.

[europegirl4jfk]

1. I read about it on DU last night

And I was looking for a YouTube or Crooks and Liars video but there seems not to be one yet. O'Donnell is a nice guy and I enjoy watching the McLaughlin group when he is on. Did he loose a relative in Vietnam? Because he somewhere talked about being at the Vietnam Memorial with his mother.

[JI7]

2. not sure about a relative, but the issue has always been big for him

he was always Kerry's biggest defenders. he also appeared on hardball or some other show during the election and called out O'Neill on his lies against Kerry. he didn't put up with the crap. he just kept calling him a liar and that he was full of it. some jackasses on DU who complain about not being tough enough bashed O'Donnell for it and said he went over the line.

O'Donnell has also said that JK saved his life by fighting to end the war because if it had continued he may have been drafted and could have ended up being one of those who "died for a mistake".

[jillan]

3. Was that on tonite or last nite?

I tivo Keith everynite & last nite I was the first nite I didn't watch...just wasn't in the mood for politics.

But haven't erased it...will go back and watch.
Wow! Wish O'Donnell would have gave kudos to Kerry.

I really like O'Donnell. One of my favorite commentators.

[karynnj]

5. I actually think it almost better that he did not credit the line.

Plenty of Kerry lines get repeated and stolen without any credit being given - because when he said them they were not propigated - other than when they could hurt him.

This line is so famous and so well known that most people interested at all in politics know the line and know who said it. What is utterly amazing is if you put together that quote and the most famous quotes from every President since LBJ (Kennedy's "Ask not, what you can do" is likely better known) - and unaided asked people to identify the person who said it, Kerry's quote is likely more known than those of most Presidents. (Other than "I did not have sex ..., does Clinton have a better known quote?

My main reason for saying it was better not to credit it - is the words use to do so bring in extraneous thoughts that clutter the clean call to sanity and reason. It also validates the question. In 2004, Kerry still felt that there could still be some value in staying. He was very clear that the window of opportunity was very small - he is now clear that it is gone - for us. Kerry's question has been valid for months - it questions whether legislators' and leaders' pride and unwillingness to lose face is part of the reason for not admitting that what we are doing isn't working.

[beachmom]

6. That was the point of my OP. It's when your name is no longer

attached to the quote, that it becomes ever so more powerful. I was glad they didn't mention Kerry, because the quote is bigger than him.

[karynnj]

8. I agree totally with you - I missread your comment

and I hope as 2007 goes on that quote is mentioned more and more - whether it is for Kerry or not. It was a very strong brave thing for a 27 year old to say to a powerful Senate committee.

The media may be trying to replace Kerry's thoughtful debate performances and speeches with the few bothched sound bites they can find, but underlying everything - in the official record, the real Senator Kerry who is better than the sound bite celebrities is easily found. If America wants a real hero, he's there for the taking - but he will do what he thinks is right not what the media and political powers that be want him to do.

[Inuca]

7. "does Clinton have a better known quote? "

... depends on what the meaning of "is" is :-). I have always been partial to this one. I was mad as hell during the whole Monica farce, but when I heard that one, I could not believe my ears!

[jillan]

9. When I went back and watched it

O'Donnell DID give Kerry credit for the line.

A very moving segment!

[whometense]

4. Tristero has a post on this

over at Hullabaloo: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_digbysblog_archive.html#116446445390127349

which led me to O'Donnell's post at HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-odonnell/rangel-is-right_b_34667.html?view=print

In my one conversation with Kissinger, which occurred on TV, I asked him if he knew anyone who got killed in Vietnam. He was completely thrown. He doesn't go on TV to be asked such small-minded questions, he goes on TV to pontificate and TV interviewers are happy to let him do it. Kissinger sputtered and ran away from the question, leaving the distinct impression that he did not know anyone who was killed in the war he managed. His memoir of the period does not mention a single casualty. If you have ever stood at the Vietnam Memorial and run your hand over the name of a relative on the wall, as my mother and I did last month, you can get as angry as Charlie Rangel does about people like Kissinger deciding how long our soldiers should be exposed to enemy fire in a war we know we can't win.

Rangel announced on Sunday that he wants to reinstate the draft. He said the same thing a few years ago but quickly let on that he wasn't serious. He's playing it straight this time and has already introduced a bill. Local New York TV news has given Rangel saturation coverage. You can see his anger and frustration building each time he answers another reporter's question about the draft. The point he keeps repeating is: "There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way."

Rangel could never get such attention to that message without introducing his bill. Nancy Pelosi should let it come to a vote. She should let the House debate the draft. Let the Republicans give speeches listing all the good reasons why we should have a volunteer Army. But let's hear Rangel's speech about how the burden of war is not fairly shared in this country. Let's get America thinking about exactly who is being left in the line of fire in the war Americans have turned against and know we can't win. Let's get America thinking about John Kerry's line about Vietnam--who is going to be the last soldier to die for a mistake? A real debate on the draft will do that. Don't worry, the bill has no chance of passing.